Totally agree. Our national team should be playing each year at least once in our capital.

I think also, the wider problem is the poor and inconsistent annual international calendar we have.

It should be so simple; a 4-yearly cycle culminating in the world cup (which they seem to be aiming for), more games (we had no home games last year!), and designated International "weekends" both mid-season and post-season. Let the Aussies play their state of origin over three weekends in June time, and we can have our own test matches.

Any new fans England attracted at the World Cup have long gone, waiting two years for another international home game is just too long.

Agree.
I'd like to see the NRL take a 3 week break whilst SOO is played. England could come to an arrangement with NZ to play a test v each other every year during those 3 weeks. It can alternate locations. And both NZ and could play 1 more test v other nations. So when over England & NZ could play France or Wales too, or down under play Fiji or PNG.

I'd also like another mid-season international period where England would play France twice and Wales once every year. They could be done whilst SL continues, the clubs would just have to manage without their England players.

That would give England 5 games every single year plus whatever happens at the end of the season. And at the very least 2 games every year in England. Set them at the same time of the year, every year. Establish an England RL supporters club with priority ticket periods, a small discount for members and member events throughout the year.

Going to all 3. Looking forward to the London one the most, am optimistic of a good crowd.

Big fanfare over the coming years (start marketing it from Autumn next year onwards, get adverts on terrestrial television, billboards in the cities) to say the Rugby League Great Britain Lions are back in 2018. Three test series v the Kangaroos at St James' Park, the Olympic Stadium and Elland Road.

Let's aim high!

Make the Olympic Stadium our London home for Internationals. I'm not saying have that as our Primary home ground but have a test there whenever we have a test series/4Nations.

Hey just wondering if anyone has started receiving their tickets yet? When I bought them guy on phone said they would be sent out in October and haven't got mine yet but should be coming soon

Most likely be posted out after the GF has been played....the RFL struggle to do more than one job at a time

Huge assumption HIM. I believe there are some stats from the previous Eng v NZ at Wembley game that shows a significant % of attendees are from the south. Large % of SL followers on Sky are from the south.

There are more RL fans down South than people realise. I met a bloke on a training course at work once from London. He never went to watch London Broncos as it was across the other side of the city to him but he had close links with an amatuer RL club and did some refereeing too. He said RL was a relatively big sport in London (considering it being a Northern sport and London being a football city like Manchester and Liverpool), played by a number of people of all ages at a growing number of amateur clubs. But that just wasn't represented in Broncos attendances.

I agree, but they're unlikely to come to more than 1. They aren't die hard fans, they're still seeing if they like it or not and using it as an event/day out. But we shouldn't count our chickens too soon.
We still only managed approx 60k for a WC semi final double header. I'm not having a go at that, it's a good attendance. But were unlikely to repeat that attendance. I'd rather we packed out 1 game of approx 50k in London than have 2 of 25k. Because if we get these non-diehards in and then provide a poor/not great experience ie a half empty stadium, they're less likely to come back.
If we give them a full (ish) stadium they'll probably think of coming back next time.
London has to be a consistent build rather than just "moving our internationals there".

I'm going to the 2nd & 3rd tests, the London one should be brilliant, can't wait !
Still not heard much publicity though

So which overseas signing next season will be the next in line to be "oh lets select him because he's shown a bit of quality now and then and forget about nurturing our own". Gidley? Sandow?

When will it end?

I see there's a thread about being PNG being a joke. Should look closer to home.

What 1 player, who's dad's English, who's a nominee for Man of Steel and who's not played for any other national side? Get a grip.

What are you going on about?

-Cuthbertson; brought up in Aus but has a British father from Warrington therefore he's just as much British as Aussie
-Reed; he's from Bradford, moved to Aus when young, both parents are British therefore he's 100% British
-Widdop; he's from Halifax, moved over to Aus as a teen, both parents are British therefore he's 100% British

Fair cop with Chase, that was a joke but he won't be playing for England again.

The series itself is going to be a very tough affair.